BMW Z4 vs Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (2026)
Price gap, MSRP + destination
$56,625
- Z4: $56,625 cheaper, 6 mpg better.
- SL-Class: 161 hp more, 3.6 cu ft more cargo.
- SL-Class wins 5 of 9 measures.
| Measure | Z4 | SL-Class | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $57,275 | $113,900 | Z4 |
| Horsepower | 255 hp | 416 hp | SL-Class |
| Torque | 295 lb-ft | N/A | N/A |
| MPG combined | 28 mpg | 22 mpg | Z4 |
| Cargo, max | 9.9 cu ft | 13.5 cu ft | SL-Class |
| Cargo, seats up | 9.9 cu ft | N/A | N/A |
| Front legroom | 42.2 in | 42.9 in | SL-Class |
| Length | 170.7 in | 181.6 in | Not scored |
| Width | 73.4 in | N/A | N/A |
| Curb weight | 3,314 lb | 4,035 lb | Not scored |
| Seats | 2 | 4 | SL-Class |
| Ground clearance | 4.7 in | 3.8 in | Z4 |
| 0-60 mph | 5.2 s tested | 4.7 s estimate | SL-Class |
| Basic warranty | 4 yr / 50,000 mi | 4 yr / 50,000 mi | About the same |
Not scored: length, width, curb weight. N/A rows are not counted.
Nearest trims by price
| Trim | Nearest in price | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Z4 sDrive30i RWD $56,100 | SL-Class SL-Class AMG SL 43 RWD $112,550 | $56,450 |
| SL-Class SL-Class AMG SL 43 RWD $112,550 | Z4 M40i RWD $68,400 | $44,150 |
Cost to run
Z4 costs $58,869 less over 6 years.
12,000 miles a year. Gas $3.20. Electricity 17 cents per kWh.
| Cost | Z4 | SL-Class |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $57,275 | $113,900 |
| Fuel or charging, 1 year | $1,371 | $1,745 |
| Fuel or charging, 6 years | $8,229 | $10,473 |
| Total, 6 years | $65,504 | $124,373 |
Which is better for me?
Weight each group from 0 to 10. MPG uses fuel or charging cost.
Equal weights: Z4 wins.
SL-Class wins if Price weight is 4 or less.
| Group | Ahead | By |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Z4 | 50% |
| MPG | Z4 | 21% |
| Power | SL-Class | 39% |
| Space | SL-Class | 27% |
| Towing | N/A |
Other years
What this cannot tell you
Your price and mpg will differ.
Reliability and safety are not included.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree